The second data center in Dubai is a response to the growing demand for cloud computing and AI services, said Alibaba Cloud
In sum — what to know:
Alibaba Cloud scales up in Dubai – The company opened a second data center to meet rising demand for AI and cloud services across the Middle East.
Boost for key industries – The new facility strengthens network performance for sectors such as finance and gaming.
Commitment to green growth – Alibaba Cloud targets 100% clean energy by 2030 and expands local partnerships and talent programs.
Chinese company Alibaba Cloud is strengthening its presence in the Middle East with the launch of its second data center in Dubai, a move aimed at meeting surging regional demand for AI and cloud computing services.
The expansion underscores the company’s long-term commitment to supporting enterprises across the region through scalable, secure, and sustainable infrastructure, said Eric Wan, vice president of Alibaba Cloud International and general manager for the Middle East, Turkey, and Middle Asia.
“The launch of our second data center in Dubai is to respond to the growing demand for cloud computing and AI services from local businesses,” Wan told RCR Wireless News. He described the Middle East as a strategically key market, driven by its “thriving economy, tech-savvy population, and strategic location as a global trade hub.”
The Chinese company had opened its first data center in Dubai in 2016.
“With the new data center, we have expanded our product portfolio to include enhanced cloud native and AI solutions, as well as big data, database, elastic computing, storage, and network offerings to better support the growing business demand from local customers for AI and cloud adoption. It is projected to achieve significant improvements in cloud resilience and network performance, ensuring increased availability and disaster recovery of Alibaba Cloud’s core cloud products, which will enable for businesses in industries like finance and gaming to boost performance, efficiency, scalability, and compliance across regions,” the executive said.
Sustainability is also a major focus. Alibaba Cloud aims to power all of its global data centers with clean energy by 2030, while promoting its Energy Expert platform to help companies measure and manage carbon emissions. “We are always looking to introduce the latest green technologies and solutions that can help our data centers as well as customers to optimize operation footprint,” Wan added.
Looking ahead, the company plans to expand partnerships, collaborate with universities to enhance digital talent, and support startups across the Middle East. “We will continue to introduce leading products and proven solutions in AI and cloud computing to serve our local customers’ digital transformation needs,” Wan said.
The company had reaffirmed its plan to spend $53 billion on cloud and AI over the next three years.